He’s Where the Joy Is: What Psalm 104 Taught Me About Wine, Oil, and God’s Provision (Yes, Really)
A couple years ago, I read the Bible cover to cover. Revelation and all. It was a huge accomplishment, especially in a year where wins felt few and far between. I followed along with a popular daily Instagram commentary and a well-loved podcast. And yet… I retained almost nothing.
I struggled especially with the first few books of the Old Testament. Having grown up in church and Christian school, the Sunday school hall-of-famers—Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Joseph—were basically old friends. And Leviticus and Numbers? Oof. Snooze-fest central. So. Much. Blood. So many sacrifices. So many rules. Honestly, the fact that the Israelites made it through all that is a miracle in itself. (Pun very much intended.)
So when the New Year rolled around and friends on social media started raving about The Bible Recap, I gave it a hard pass. I mean, did I really want to trudge through the Torah again? All those tongue-twister names and complicated family trees? No, thank you.
But then something stirred. Quiet, persistent. A little nudge from God to give it another go—even if that meant finishing in, say, April 2026. I started The Bible Recap reading plan last month, just planning to go at my own pace. No pressure. No expectations.
Here’s the wild part: I’m now on Day 139. In one month. Not because I’m a spiritual overachiever, but because I’m hungry. This time, something clicked. The words feel alive. I’ve completed 10 whole books and dipped into 3 more. Not a humble brag—just an honest observation that I want more of God’s Word because I’m finally seeing His character in it.
No, I still don’t get all the details. I can’t pronounce half the names. I’m still confused about who begat whom. But I’m completely dumbfounded by how much depth and beauty I’ve missed before.
And in the midst of this journey, I’m still me—still crying out to God with the same prayers I’ve prayed for over a decade. Chief among them? Financial provision. It’s actually part of why I started this blog. I’m trusting that God will use the creativity He’s planted in me for something bigger. And wouldn’t you know, one of my early Bible Recap “God shots” came from the moment the Spirit of God first fills someone in Scripture—Bezalel—and it’s all about creativity. (More on that in another post. Trust me, it’s worth coming back for.)
So what does all this have to do with facial oil and sangria?
Let me explain.
This week, I hit Psalm 104. It’s an often-overlooked psalm that paints a picture of God as the extravagant, detailed, joyful Creator. The psalmist celebrates everything from wild animals to the moon’s rhythms, and then, verse 15 stopped me cold:
“[God provides] wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.”
—Psalm 104:15
This isn’t just God handing out survival rations. This is God lavishing good things on His people. Bread for strength? Sure. But also wine for joy and oil for radiance. Not essential for life—but essential for living. It’s a little spa day and sangria moment tucked right into the Psalms.
God’s not stingy. He isn’t offering us the bare minimum. He’s generous, abundant, and surprisingly indulgent. These small luxuries—wine, oil, delight—are part of His provision too. And I never noticed that before.
Maybe because, like so many of us, I’ve spent a lot more time in the valleys than the mountaintops. But even there, I’ve never been alone. And I’m realizing that knowing God—really knowing Him—isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up. It’s about being willing to read the hard stuff, to cry out again, to let Him surprise you in the mundane.
And surprisingly, through this daily practice, He has.
Tara-Leigh Cobble, the host of The Bible Recap, ends every episode with her “God shot”—the glimpse of God’s character in that day’s reading. It’s helped reframe everything for me. It’s not just about crossing books off a list or chasing a spiritual gold star. It’s about finding where God is in the text—even in the tough, messy, overlooked parts.
It’s what finally gave me today’s “Marvelous Monday” topic.
So if you’re wondering whether the Bible is relevant, whether you’ll ever make sense of Leviticus, or whether God really does care about your blog or your budget or your dry skin—Psalm 104 says: yes. He’s there. He’s where the joy is. Even in the verses you used to gloss over.
Listen to Day 120 of The Bible Recap: Click here
